NBA: Built to Dominate

A Stunned Coach Calls Timeout

BEEP!

Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens immediately called for a timeout.

In his 24-year coaching career, he had called many timeouts.

But this one?

This one was different.

Because for the first time, Wilkens himself didn't fully understand what just happened on the court.

His basketball instincts told him one thing:

Stop the game.

Shockwaves Across Staples Center

"The Atlanta Hawks have called a timeout!"

The arena's announcer barely processed the words.

"The game has just been completely changed… and it's all because of Alex Mo!"

The commentators were still in disbelief.

"I still can't believe what I just saw," one muttered.

"I'm with you, buddy," the other commentator added.

They weren't alone.

Every single fan in Staples Center felt the same way.

Alex Mo had just hit three consecutive three-pointers.

A 9-0 solo run—all from deep.

If Allen Iverson had done it?

No one would have been surprised.

But it wasn't Iverson.

It was a 7-foot center.

Alex Mo had just shattered every expectation of what a big man should be able to do.

Disbelief Turns Into Celebration

For a few moments, the entire crowd was silent.

Then, as replays of Alex's three straight threes flashed on the big screen, something changed.

Fans turned to each other.

They realized something.

This is real.

Alex Mo can actually shoot like that.

BOOM!

A deafening cheer exploded across Staples Center!

The Lakers' home crowd had just witnessed history.

Iverson Can't Believe It

On the Lakers' bench, even Iverson was stunned.

"Alex… you really made those shots?"

Alex glanced at him.

"Who else would've made them? You?"

He grinned and playfully grabbed Iverson's short haircut.

Iverson, who still had a clean-cut look as a rookie, wasn't sporting his famous cornrows yet.

Alex had to admit—the texture felt different.

Maybe he should try picking it up more often.

"Hahaha, those three shots…" Iverson shook his head.

"I'm gonna be thinking about them for the rest of my life!"

Veterans in Awe

The bench was buzzing.

Veteran Kenny Smith joined in.

"Damn, Alex, you can actually shoot like that?"

"I've never seen a big man pull up from deep like you."

Even Dell Curry, one of the best shooters in the NBA, was shocked.

"Yeah! Even when I played with Hakeem Olajuwon, the most he ever did was mid-range jumpers."

"He never pulled up for threes like this!"

Kenny Smith nodded.

"Hakeem was already considered a rare skillful big man…"

"But you?"

"You're something else."

Alex just shrugged.

The Coach's Big Question

Finally, Coach Del Harris stepped in.

"Alex," he asked seriously,

"Were those three-pointers planned?"

"Or were you just throwing them up on a whim?"

Alex looked him in the eyes.

"Coach, every shot I take is calculated."

Harris narrowed his eyes.

"You sure?"

"I can go out there and prove it again."

Harris took a deep breath.

Then he grinned.

"Good."

"Then go out there and keep proving it."

The Hawks Are Lost

On the other side, the Hawks' bench was in chaos.

Their timeout was ending—

But Coach Wilkens still had no answer.

"What do we do, Coach?" one of his assistants asked.

Wilkens didn't respond immediately.

His mind was racing.

In his decades of coaching, he had never faced this problem before.

There were plenty of ways to stop a normal three-point shooter.

But Alex Mo?

A seven-footer with a high release?Athletic enough to drive inside?Skilled enough to dribble like a guard?

Even if they closed out on him at the three-point line…

He could just drive past them.

Wilkens hesitated.

Should they guard his shooting…

Or his ability to attack the paint?

He couldn't decide.

And that was a problem.

Back on the Court

The timeout ended.

Both teams returned to the floor.

The Hawks were visibly shaken.

Their next possession?

Blaylock bricked a contested jumper.

Alex grabbed the rebound and quickly passed it to Iverson.

Iverson brought the ball up, following Coach Harris' instructions.

For the first time, the Lakers slowed the game down.

"They're stabilizing the pace," the CCTV commentator noted.

"This is a smart move by Coach Harris. A moment like this… you need to keep control."

But even as they slowed down—

The Lakers had no intention of letting up.

Alex Mo Destroys the Hawks' Defense

Iverson passed the ball to Alex beyond the three-point line.

Immediately, Mutombo stepped up.

If Alex was going to play like a guard, then Mutombo was going to defend him like one.

Big mistake.

The moment Mutombo got close—

Alex crossed over, spun, and exploded past him.

Mutombo barely had time to react—

He was left in the dust.

The Hawks' defense collapsed.

Laettner and Steve Smith rotated inside to help.

Alex sidestepped them, took two long strides—

BOOM!

A ferocious dunk!

Pick Your Poison

Mutombo looked to the bench, frustrated.

What were they supposed to do?

If they guarded Alex at the perimeter, he drove past them.If they sagged off, he shot over them.

Even Wilkens was lost.

"How do we stop him?"

The Hawks had no answer.

Because there wasn't one.

Alex had everything.

And the worst part?

He was just getting started.

A Record-Breaking Quarter

By the time the first quarter ended—

Alex Mo had played 8 minutes.

His stats?

4/4 from three. 6/6 from two. 0 free throws. 10/10 shooting. 24 points.

The highest-scoring first quarter for a rookie.

The highest-scoring first quarter for a center.

A perfect 10-for-10 shooting performance.

The commentators were stunned.

"It's not just the record-setting quarter that shocks me…"

"It's the fact that he hit four threes."

One commentator muttered,

"…Maybe when Alex said he didn't have a player template before the draft… he was right."

His partner nodded.

"In all of NBA history…"

"There's never been a player like Alex Mo."

Wilt Chamberlain Speaks

In the crowd, Wilt Chamberlain had been silent all game.

But finally, he spoke.

He turned to Jerry West.

"Jerry," he said.

"You've found the future of this franchise."

West nodded, grinning.

"I've never seen a player like him," Wilt continued.

"Not before."

"And maybe… never again."